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Talk about it

Today, we pose a question to our loyal readership. What on earth is going on?

Participants in youth sports in Superior is going south in a hurry. Why is this happening? Is it the kids? Is it the parents? Is it the video games, cell phones and cable television with seven million channels (some not suitable for viewing)? Or is this an evolutionary change in what we choose to do with our spare time? If the change is evolutionary, I fear for society as a whole, and it is time to make a positive change.

You may ask, “What can we do?” Well, Lance is not shy so he will tell you. Parents need to start exerting parental authority. Get your kids involved in activities with other kids. Get them off the couch, their butts, whatever, and do what it takes to get them involved in youth sports.

Can you tell I’m upset? Sports, particularly team sports, are the greatest outlet for kids to have fun, learn or improve their skills, get exercise and learn lessons about life that will be with them forever.

There are only a couple of negatives from the participation in team sports. You may feel that your kid is not getting a fair shake or you may think the coach is an idiot. Well, guess what? Life isn’t fair, and if you think you can do a better job than a youth coach, volunteer! What greater opportunity is there for parents and children to bond, grow, learn and have fun together?

I coached in the Superior Basketball Association (SBA) for many years. My two kids went through the program and have benefited greatly from the experience. You cannot get exposure like that sitting on the couch in the living room, playing video games, talking on the cell phone or texting your friends 24/7.

Yet with more than 350 seventh- and eighth-grade girls attending Superior schools, only 30 are playing basketball this season. That is less than 10 percent! The numbers in the other grades aren’t too bad, but I hope the other 90 percent of seventh- and eighth-grade girls are in other activities.

Pam O’Neill is the current president of the SBA. She sees the value in kids playing this sport and the positives they can take with them for the rest of their lives.

“Not only is basketball a great sport, it is great exercise and a great social environment,” O’Neill said. “The kids learn good sportsmanship, responsibility, and how to be part of a team. It is by far the cheapest game in town and the longest season. The fee for the entire year, not including the traveling teams, is $50. We really need more kids to be playing basketball, especially at the 7th and 8th grade level.”

Mike McCoshen, board member for Superior Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA), has seen fewer youth hockey players too.

“The number of youth hockey participants is down considerably from what it was in the 1990s,” McCoshen said. “Without the 52 girls we have playing this year, our numbers would be down even more.”

Lance wonders, with a population base of around 27,000 that has remained stagnant for 20 years, where are all of the players? If it is the expense involved, many, if not all activities have confidential financial aid available. Both the SBA and SAHA offer financial help to eliminate that worry. At some level, all kids should be able to play.

I could rant and rave about the positive aspects of organized and unorganized team sports. The negatives that happen on occasion are far outweighed by the great things kids and parents can learn about themselves and others. I am a proponent of basketball, but there are so many activities for kids. During the year, there is hockey, volleyball, swimming, football, baseball, softball, track, soccer, dance line, cheerleading and a million more activities. As long as kids are physically and mentally active, that’s all I care about.

And parents please realize the chance of your kid becoming a professional athlete is less than .001 percent. Relax, have fun, and get close to your kid. Remember the old saying, “A watched pot never boils?” Let a kid be a kid and enjoy the friendships they have and the new ones they will develop. Even if they are not participating in sports, they need to be active in the million other ways available through the school, church and community organizations in our area.

In closing, parents need to be parents and kids need to be kids. It sounds simple, and it is. Get the kids involved with as many positive activities as possible. You will be glad you did.

Boyling in the Pirkolator

This past Sunday, I had the honor of attending a fund raiser for Kathy (Geitner) Johnson. She is receiving treatment for ovarian cancer and has incurred great financial costs. She is the mother of Matt Johnson, former Cathedral, Spartan and current St. Scholastica football player. Anyone who knows Matt is aware of what a great person he is. You can see where he gets it from.

There also will be a benefit for Kara Rozowski Saturday from 5-8 p.m. at Cathedral of Christ the King. Lance’s favorite, spaghetti, will be served as the dinner. Kara is being treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia and will have treatments for the next two years. With four young children, her husband Casey has been unable to work while caring for Kara and the young ones. Kara is the daughter-in-law of Jeff and Julie Rozowski, great supporters of Spartan sports and friends of Lance and Billy.

Donations can be made for both Kathy and Kara to Superior Choice Credit Union located at 2817 Tower Ave. in Superior. Whether it is $1 or $100, these people need the help of everyone. Superior and Douglas County residents are incredible when it comes to helping others. Please do what you can.

Opinions and/or story ideas can be e-mailed to dleigh1273@aol.com or wgranlund@centurytel.net

Tags: have fun or get out of the way, sports, superior, spartans, prep, collections